Theme: DIALOGUE
Text: “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.” – Proverbs 18:17.
Comment: Dialogue enables people of different sides of the social divide to know themselves better, and thereby reduce, if not eliminate, prejudices, fears and tensions which is a necessary condition for them to work unitedly for the common good. The dialogue between Jesus Christ and the Samaritan woman is a good example of a conversation that led to better understanding on the woman’s part. Jesus asked her to give him water. The woman was surprised that a Jew would “reduce” himself to talk with her and she said so. He told her he would give her living water for which she would not thirst again. He made her to know that she had had five husbands and that the One through whom God will save His people, the Messiah, will come from the Jews.
That the place of worship, whether mountain or Jerusalem did not matter as what God requires of His people “the true worshippers” is for them to have His spirit to guide them and to have accurate knowledge of Him. Convinced that she was not speaking with an ordinary man, she went to call the townspeople to also hear him out themselves, saying, “is not this the Christ?” When the men came they believed on Christ also and besought him to stay with them and he stayed there for two days. (John 4:1-42) St. Paul said: “…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his”. – Romans 8:9.